BAKERSFIELD, California -- Covina, California's Lee Hatch totally dominated a 50 lap ASA Speed Truck Challenge event, June 26th, at Bakersfield's Mesa Marin Raceway. Hatch's CMK xtreme Dot Com Chevrolet led the race from first flag to final flag and was never seriously challenged as he easily cruised his way around Mesa Marin's half mile, high banked, oval.
The real fight in this race was the battle for second place. In the final laps the Chevrolets of Scott Franchimone and Lee Keach ran each other hard for the runner up spot. After approximately 25 laps of hard charging, Franchimone finally completed the pass on the final circuit. The Chevrolets of Scott Dodd and Ron Nava completed the top five.
In victory lane an elated Hatch had high praise for his hardworking BHRM Motorsports crew who provided a strong race truck right out of the box.
The flow of the race was slowed four times but the yellow flags had no impact at all on Hatch's race rhythm. With each ensuing restart Hatch easily pulled away from the field to again re establish his lead.
Later in the evening BHRM Motorsports had another special moment when NASCAR Nextel Cup star Bill Elliot drove their truck in a special challenge race. The event was the Kevin Harvick Cup Drivers Challenge. Nextel Cup drivers Sterling Marlin and Scott Riggs joined Harvick and Elliot in a special 20 lap exhibition race driving ASA Speed Trucks.
Harvick won the event in a very close finish over Elliot. After the race Elliot told the BHRM Motorsports team "you have an excellent race truck, it was an real honor to drive it."
